In advance of the modernization initiative to the Rules of Golf which will take effect in 2019, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), recently announced a new Local Rule effective January 1, 2018. The new Local Rule will eliminate the additional two-stroke penalty for failing to include a penalty on the score card when the player was unaware of the penalty.

In addition to this Local Rule, new protocols have been put in place to review video when applying the Rules of Golf at broadcasted events. For Golf Canada specifically, this will only impact our two professional opens and not have any impact on our amateur competitions.

For some time, it has been a point of contention with many enthusiasts of the game that viewer call-ins should not be permitted in our sport. Advances in technology and the use of high definition television and slow motion replay have added a level of complexity that has caused undesirable outcomes to many competitions in recent years.

Golf’s governing bodies felt this needed to be closely looked at and a group of experts from the PGA Tour, LPGA, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour and The PGA of America, as well as the governing bodies, was tasked with discussing the role video footage when applying the Rules.

As a result of these discussions over the last year, the protocol moving forward will be to assign one or more officials to monitor the video broadcast of a competition to help identify and resolve Rules issues as they arise. Committees will also discontinue any steps to facilitate or consider viewer call-ins as part of the Rules decision process.

All of the organizations represented on the working group will introduce the Local Rule for 2018, and this score card penalty will be permanently removed when the modernized Rules of Golf take effect on January 1, 2019.

As golf’s governing body, Golf Canada will be implementing this new Local Rule as part of their Standard Local Rules and Conditions of Competition for competitions in 2018.

If a committee wishes to introduce this Local Rule to modify the score card penalty, the following wording for the exception to Rule 6-6d is modified as follows:

“Exception: if a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include one or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, he did not know he had incurred, he is not disqualified. In such circumstances, the competitor incurs the penalty prescribed by the applicable rule, but there is no additional penalty for a breach of rule 6-6d. This exception does not apply when the applicable penalty is disqualification from the competition.”

Click here for more information on the Rules of Golf, or to send a rules question to our ‘Ask an Expert’ tool.

This article was originally published in the 2018 March edition of the Alberta Golfer magazine. 

For many of us trying to squeeze in the last few rounds of the season, or for those planning on heading south this winter, it’s important to note the “active season” in the region, province or country you’re playing in.

Golf Canada’s Handicap System stipulates every player is responsible for returning all acceptable scores into one’s scoring record from rounds played on courses observing their active season, which is part of the golf season when courses have acceptable playing conditions.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of authorized provincial golf association to declare active and inactive periods, and it is the responsibility of the area club and golfers to observe these dates for posting purposes.

Each year, provincial associations analyze numerous factors to determine their active seasons. This ensures consistency of when scores would be posted by the majority of golfers to help keep Handicap Factors accurate.

Scores made at any golf course observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap purposes. The rationale behind this is that posting scores during inactive seasons (periods of poor course conditions) could artificially increase a player’s Handicap Factor.

Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Factor is observing an inactive season. The club’s Handicap Committee must make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season.

For example, if a player belonging to a golf club in Ontario plays golf in Florida during January, any scores made in Florida are acceptable and must be returned to the player’s Ontario golf club. If the player is also a member of a golf club in Florida, scores must be posted to the player’s Florida club.

In Canada, the active season in each province is as follows:

BC = Mar. 1 – Nov. 15
AB = Mar. 1 – Oct. 31
SK = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
MB = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
ON = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
QC = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
NS = Apr. 15 – Oct. 31
NB = May. 1 – Oct. 31
PE = Apr. 16 – Nov. 14
NL = Apr. 1 – Nov. 30

It’s also important to note that if you are travelling to other countries, you should determine their active seasons to prevent posting unacceptable scores. Your home club needs all acceptable scores from the “off-season” as well to ensure your Handicap Factor is accurate once recalculated at the beginning of the season.

For a detailed list of active and inactive schedule in the United States, click here.

For more information on handicapping, click here.

• 2018 tour registration is $300 + HST | Register online by clicking HERE
• Each participant will receive a TaylorMade hat, Adidas golf shirt & Taylormade golf balls
• Season ending BBQ at Brudenell on August 20^th
• Prizes in the form of gift certificates for each event
• Tour is recommended for junior golfers aged 10 to 16
• All participants must have a Golf Canada Membership Card (can be purchased at your home club)

Please contact Sean Joyce at 902-330-5476 or peiga@peiga.ca if you have any questions

P.E.I. Golf Association Completes Girls Camps

Concerned about declining participation numbers the P.E.I. Golf Association set out this year to encourage more girls to take up the sport. In July and August the P.E.I.G.A. in partnership with member courses offered a series of “Girls Camps” for girls age 9-15 years.

Last year, as a pilot project, the Association offered a single camp at the Belvedere Golf Course that was very successful and well attended. Based on this positive response the Association organized 5 camps this summer in different parts of the province. Camps were held at Brudenell, Avondale , Fox Meadow , Anderson Creek and Mill River. 45 young girls attended the camps. Each camp included weekly instruction by the local P.G.A. professional.

” Our camps were very well received by the girls and their families. They had a wonderful experience and were given a tremendous introduction to golf. We are very thankful to our member courses and their golf professionals for their support” said P.E.I.G.A. President Brenda McILwaine.

” We believe that this type of targeted program is essential for increasing the participation of girls in the sport and we plan to offer more in the future. It goes directly to the Association’s mandate to grow the game of golf in P.E.I. ” said McILwaine.

PEIGA Excel Accounting Services Sr & SSr Women’s Tour

2017 comes to a close..

Great day was had by all who were able to join us for the closing / banquet

Many memorable moments shared over the season..

The PEIGA would like to thank our Sponsor

Excel Accounting Services

Red Sands Sports

for all their prizes throughout our season

The Tour Champions are as follows

Sr   Sherry White

SSr Lorraine MacDonald

Hope to see all next year… let’s grow the team

Brenda  McIlwaine

Golf Rules Clinic

Want to know the basic rules of golf? Ever thought about becoming a Rules Official? The Prince Edward Island Golf Association is pleased to offer an introduction to the Rules of Golf. This “free” clinic will be held Tuesday, September 5th from 6-8pm at Sport P.E.I. on Enman Crescent in Charlottetown. The clinic will explain the basic rules of golf and provide information for those interested in pursuing more detailed study. Space is limited so please pre-register by sending your name, email and telephone number to peiga@peiga.ca by August 31st.

Friday July 14th

Saturday July 15th

Click Here for the 2017 NCCP Schedule